Day 6: Zinnia Plurian's POV
The sun is only just coming up above the buildings, but I'm already up. I do consider myself somewhat of an early riser, but the real reason I'm waking up so early is so I can see every moment of this year's Hunger Games. I'm really finding myself absorbed in them. Besides, my husband and I have done a little friendly betting. I come into the television room stirring the coffee an avox gave to me. Good, Constantine is just turning on the set. "Zinnia, at last you're awake! Perhaps today is the day I will win my bet." "Oh, Constantine, these Games may be going far faster than usual, but never has there been a winner on just the sixth day. Especially not your idiot from 2." I give a self satisfied smirk. Constantine grunts and sits back on the couch. "Zinnia, I assure you that the boy will win. He is clearly the strongest." I shake my head and laugh as I sit to join him. "Surely Agate is much more clever and therefore more lethal." Suddenly, the Games come on and we quiet instantly.
The tributes are all moving toward the Cornucopia. Tiny Amber is clutching her dart gun and looking very scared. How did she end up in the final six? Just then, I remember yesterday. She killed a Career somehow. Perhaps she will surprise us again. The two from 7 are going together. They're still an alliance. Both of them hold their weapons, an axe and a dagger. Chardonnay, Agate and Mason are still moving together too, but who knows how long that will last. All of them share one thing in common. They all look confused. Of course, the "twist" that was announced yesterday was baffling. Why would the Gamemakers not them to kill? Of course, there's still another twist to be announced. Elana and Lyndon are the first to arrive at the Cornucopia, followed immediately by the Careers. They stand directly across from each other, staring each other down. I feel Constantine tense up with excitement. Elana has her dagger at her side and is clenching her jaw. She's eyeing the size of Mason's sword. I may not favor Mason to win, but that girl doesn't have a chance. Agate has just a hint of a sadistic smile playing on her lips as she fingers her spear. She can't wait to kill. Lyndon and Chardonnay both look less enthusiastic. Chardonnay actually looks really nervous for a Career. I slide up on the couch and my husband does the same. You could cut the tension with a knife. Finally, Amber arrives out of the foliage and the second twist can be announced. "Attention tributes" Claudius comes on. I'm actually crossing my legs with excitement. "The second twist is that you are all going to be paired up with another tribute. You can not kill or injure this tribute until you hear two bells ring. You and your partner will have time to separate yourselves from the others. When you hear one bell, you have permission to hunt down and kill the others. Your partner will have to stay by your side until the other bells sound. I will now read the pairs."
Oh, this is exciting! The idea of forced alliances is definitely new. The tributes look understandably uncomfortable with it. "The first pair is Amber and Agate." Amber turns white as a sheet. Once that second set of bells rings, she's dead. She and Agate both move silently into the foliage. "The second pair is Mason and Elana." They move in the opposite direction as Amber and Agate did. Elana still can't take her eyes off Mason's sword. That leaves Chardonnay and Lyndon. For some reason, Chardonnay looks slightly relieved. Maybe she knows that Lyndon will make a much less formidable competitor. Now the screen shows Amber and Agate making their way deeper into the jungle. Amber suddenly stops. "Here," she whispers. At first, I'm very confused but then I see the tiny spring at their feet. Agate silently begins filling up a canteen. Amber sits down next to her and they sit like that for a while. Of course they aren't talking. They'll be at each other's necks in a matter of hours. The camera cuts to Elana and Mason. Mason is sharpening his sword, looking menacing. Elana is sitting far away from him. She's clutching her dagger so hard that her fingers are white. Now I see Chardonnay trying to make a fire with Lyndon walking her through the steps. A dead squirrel sits at their feet. Both of them look they could never eat. They look like they're going to be sick. Since nothing too interesting is happening, Caesar comes on with recaps of the family interviews and I get an avox to fix me some lunch.
Chardonnay's family makes me laugh. Her mother sits on the couch looking incredibly vain. She has fox fur draped around her. Mr. Harris is wearing a sleek suit and he proudly tells Caesar that the family owns the largest vineyard in 1. Between them sits a little girl about 8 who is dressed like a doll in a frilly pink dress. She says her name is Jewelia. Even for District 1 that's a little over the top. The mother and father go on to describe how wonderful Chardonnay is, with frequent corrections from Jewelia. It's really quite funny. Agate's family is much more serious. Her dad is a big hulking man who goes on to explain just how well Agate's been trained. "How badly do you want your daughter to come home?" Caesar asks. The man literally cracks his knuckles. "All I'm saying is, the girl better come home or she'll bring dishonor to our district." During the whole interview he doesn't say Agate's name once. It's only "the girl." His wife doesn't say two words. Mason's house is tiny. He only lived with his grandmother. His grandmother said that she only sent him to the training academy so he could have enough food to eat. She never expected him to volunteer. Elana lives in a cottage with her father and three younger brothers, the oldest of which is only 10. Apparently, her father taught her how to fight with a dagger since she was young because her mother was mauled and killed by a bear. That's not something you hear every day. Lyndon lives in an orphanage. The matron starts to speak, but it's clear that she doesn't know much about him. She's interrupted by a boy who looks no older than 7. "Lyndon is like my big brother. He's really big and scary looking at first, but he's the best brother ever!" A crowd of children cheers in the background. Well, that's sweet. Amber has the largest family and it's almost comical watching them all squeezing into the tiny living room. Her grandmother actually offers Caesar some bread! "We just want to see our girl back home. We're watching you right now Amber and we have faith in you." Her father says. It's a shame. It seems everyone in her family really thinks she can win.
The camera shows Amber and her reluctant ally just as a bell's sound pierces the arena. Agate's face lights up and she literally yanks Amber off the ground. "It's hunting time." She whispers and I can tell she's taunting the poor innocent little thing. Amber literally gulps as she sprints to follow a very excited Agate through the foliage. Amber stops suddenly. "I smell smoke." Of course, Chardonnay lit that fire. She's probably put it out by now, but the smell is still there. Constantine holds onto my arm. "Oh, they'll find those two for sure!" He shouts. He's right. Lyndon and Chardonnay don't even have time to run before Agate and Amber silently sneak up. They're both very quick and light on their feet. Chardonnay gets up and sprints and Lyndon follows. He trips over his own axe and Agate doesn't hesitant to send a spear through his chest. He's dead, but Chardonnay's gone. "Why didn't you do it?" Agate screams at Amber. "She was wide open for the kill!" She says, her face turning red. I can see why she's mad. Amber just stood there. Now Amber stares at the ground with a strange look on her face. "Let's just go back to the spring." She mumbles. Upon seeing Agate's face, she adds "you and I both know that Mason is just too strong." Agate gives in and they return to their spring. As a hovercraft comes to pick up Lyndon's body, I can't help but think of that little boy. For a little boy with no one, Lyndon was everyone. It seems the same for the other children. They'll never see their big brother again.
As the pair make their way to the spring, another cannon booms. Chardonnay's face is projected into the sky. Mason must have found her. You know, I've completely lost my day to these Games! It's nearly dinner and I haven't done anything but watch them. I can't stop though. Things are just getting interesting. Mason and Elana are sitting by the creek. Mason looks like he's cleaning something off his sword, probably Chardonnay's blood. Elana looks understandably disgusted at this. Back at the spring, Agate has fallen asleep. Even though it's not that late, I know the real reason. While she was with the Careers, she literally never slept. It was because she knew they could easily kill her in her sleep. I guess she assumes that after Amber's reaction to Lyndon's death and the fact that she didn't kill Chardonnay means that Amber won't kill her. Amber is fingering her dart gun when two bells ring. She suddenly points the gun at a sleeping Agate. Why is she still sleeping? The screen cuts off. I guess they want to end it with a cliffhanger.
Still Alive:
1. Agate (2)
2. Mason (2)
3. Elana (7)
4. Amber (9)